China's GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.6 percent during the third quarter, according to the country's statistics authority.
Analysts had expected a rate of 4.5 percent. The year started with a growth rate of 5.3 percent for the first quarter and 4.7 percent for the second.
According to the statistics authority, the development is affected by both new domestic problems and factors in the outside world. The Chinese leadership's goal is for GDP to grow by 5 percent for the whole of 2024.
